During the Warring States Period, what was a clan's most important resource? Not territory, food, or ninjutsu, but children.
Only with children could a clan have a future and make plans for it. Without them, everything else was meaningless. That was why, despite the brutal pressures of the era forcing clans to send children who had only just come of age onto the battlefield, they strictly ensured those children were at least ten years old. There were few exceptions.
Shin's expression darkened. If the Hyuga Clan's plan succeeded, the Uchiha's next generation would suffer devastating casualties. In a decade or so, the clan would face a shortage of successors, perhaps even putting its very foundations at risk.
"How many are coming?" Shin asked.
"I don't know. Though your Uchiha clan suffered a setback on the right flank, it still has half its strength. Sending too many people would raise suspicions, and the clan can't spare many more skilled fighters right now. I'd guess one Jonin, two Special Jonin, and around ten Chunin. A squad of elite fighters like that."
Shin rubbed his chin, carefully weighing their strength, then agreed. "One last question. How did you hide your Byakugan? I remember that, unlike the Sharingan, the Byakugan can't change into normal eyes."
The ninja replied, "It's a secret potion our clan developed. It can conceal every trace of the Byakugan. It only works on the Byakugan, so it's no use to you."
"Oh!" Shin sounded disappointed. He'd thought it might be some kind of special technique.
"Never mind. Since you've been so honest, I'll make it quick."
"Wait..."
The ninja looked horrified. He hadn't expected Shin to be so decisive. He was just about to say something else when a kunai sliced across his throat. His vision went black, and he never spoke again.
Ding!
"Killed a Hyuga Clan Chunin. Reward: 1,000 points."
"Huh?"
The system's sudden voice caught Shin off guard. Over the past two years, he had almost forgotten about it.
"So killing enemy clan ninja earns points too! Then what was the point of spending the last two years training like an idiot in the clan?"
Shin gave a bitter laugh and cursed the damn system. Then he turned and sprinted toward the clan grounds. Now wasn't the time to dwell on the system. Since he knew he could earn points by killing enemy ninja, he'd have plenty of chances to gain more from now on. He could only hope the Third Elder hadn't left yet.
On the way back, he opened the system for the first time in ages and went straight to the ninjutsu available for exchange.
In the Behind-the-Scenes Boss System, the points required to exchange for ninjutsu varied according to its rank.
For example, an S-Rank Ninjutsu cost 10,000 points, an A-Rank cost 5,000, a B-Rank cost 1,000, a C-Rank cost 500, and a D-Rank cost 100.
Shin looked at his 1,000 points and thought it over. He could exchange them for one B-Rank Ninjutsu or two C-Rank Ninjutsu. He needed to choose carefully. If the Third Elder had already left, tonight would be extremely dangerous.
"The B-Rank Ninjutsu I know are Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet and Fire Style: Fire Flame Slash. They're both offensive techniques. Given my age and limited chakra, learning another B-Rank Ninjutsu wouldn't increase my strength by much. I'd be better off learning two C-Rank techniques to keep myself alive."
At that thought, Shin suddenly remembered a technique. He hurriedly checked the C-Rank Ninjutsu, but there were far too many to find the one he wanted. So he asked in his mind, Hey, System, can I exchange for Crow Clone?
"Crow Clone, Rank C. Exchange cost: 500 points. Exchange?" The system's calm voice sounded in Shin's mind.
Shin felt reassured and quickly replied in his mind, "Exchange. Do it now."
This so-called Crow Clone was a ninjutsu invented by Uchiha Itachi in the original story. It combined genjutsu and the Clone Technique, and was the perfect blend of stylish, cool, graceful, and lifesaving. When he'd watched Naruto, Shin had always been envious of it.
He'd just been worried that, since this was the Warring States Period and Uchiha Itachi hadn't been born yet, the technique might not be available to exchange for. Now it seemed the system really did have some serious capabilities. It could even offer ninjutsu that wouldn't appear until the future.
A warm current flowed through Uchiha Shin's body. In moments, he had mastered the technique, and his points had dropped by 500.
He spent the remaining 500 points on a genjutsu called Demonic Illusion: Fox Mind Technique.
When Shin returned to the clan grounds, he went straight to the meeting hall. The Third Elder wasn't there, and his heart sank.
Still clinging to a glimmer of hope, he rushed straight to Madara's room. The moment he saw Madara, he asked, "Where's the Third Elder?"
Uchiha Madara looked at him in surprise. "The Third Elder took the Guardian Ninja to reinforce the battlefield. You were there when he made the decision, weren't you?"
Shin's heart sank further. Still holding on to a faint hope, he asked, "How long ago did the Third Elder leave?" It had taken him two hours to catch up with the Hyuga Clan Chunin, another hour to subdue and question him, and two hours to return. Five hours in all. He could only hope the Third Elder hadn't gone too far.
"Three hours ago. Did something happen?" Uchiha Madara truly lived up to his future reputation as a legend of the Ninja World. He had keenly sensed something was wrong from Shin's tone.
Shin sighed helplessly. Three hours was a long time by a ninja's standards. It would be difficult to catch up now. He sat down, disappointed, and told Madara what he'd learned.
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